KUALA LUMPUR: An inter-ministerial committee will soon be formed to tackle the issue of microplastics in Malaysia, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said this allows a holistic resolution on the matter, citing how each ministry as well as local councils had their own legal framework.
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“We need to standardise this through a committee to ensure a consolidated approach.
“Firstly, we need to identify what new pollutants are present, how they will be monitored, measures that should be taken holistically in terms of enforcement as well as prevention steps.
“Existing measures may not effectively cover new pollutants so we have to improve this.
“This will be done in a streamlined manner under a committee that will be formed,” he said during Minister's Question Time on Thursday (July 18).
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Fadillah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, also said a more in-depth study had to be conducted locally to evaluate the impact of microplastic exposure towards humans.
He said this required cooperation between the Health Ministry, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, Housing and Local Government Ministry as well as state governments and local councils.
The Deputy Prime Minister was responding to a question by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) on measures taken to tackle microplastics in Malaysia.
On whether a legal framework will be developed to tackle the issue, Fadillah said the focus was currently on advocacy measures.
“If we have policies and laws yet not practised, it will not be effective,” he said.
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He also highlighted the need to raise awareness on best practices including the use of biodegradable plastics.
The Star previously reported that Malaysia ranks the highest among 109 countries in consuming microplastics, which are plastic particles smaller than 5mm, according to a recent study.
The study, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, found that Malaysians eat an average of 502.3mg of microplastics daily per capita.
The report noted that more than 50% of Malaysia’s microplastic consumption was from fish consumption.
Malaysia was also recorded in the top 10 countries that inhaled the most microplastic particles, at an estimated 494,000 microplastic particles a day (per capita), according to the study.
